Flush-tank device.



W. F. DREW.

FLUSH TA'NK DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1 1, 1911.

1,069,658. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

4 SHEETS--BHEET 1.

I'l li W. F. DREW.

PLUSH TANK DEVICE.

APPLIUATION PILED AUG.14, 1911.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

In ven tor:

coLUAmA PLANOGRAPH CD.,W A$H1NGTON. n. c.

TNTTED STATES PATEN T GFFTCE WABREN F. DREW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROTICO FITTING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPOEATION OF NEW YORK.

FLUSH-TANK DEVICE.

i ,ocacsa To all whom ii may concern:

Be it known that I, VVARREN F. DREW, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of 'New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush- TankDevices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved fiush-tank device and has theobjects and advantages hereinafter specified, and such further objectsand advantages as will appear to those skilled in the art from anunder-standing of the following specification in connection with thedrawings. These show only one of the embodiments which my invention isadapted to take and in them- Figure l is a front elevation of aflushtank within my invention, the front wall being broken away toreveal the contents, part of which is shown in vertical section the restin elevation. Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. l but omittingcertain parts and showing the remaining parts in their positionsoccupied when the tank has flushed out. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionpartly in elevation on the line 3-3 in Fig. l looking in the directionof the arrows. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view partly in verticalsection and partly in elevation 4 of the valve and related parts. Fig. 5is a vertical section of the inlet valve taken on the line 5)-5 in Fig.2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 6 is a verticalsection partly in elevation on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 looking in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View at rightangles to Fig. et.

I will now describe the devices of the drawing, reserving it to theclaims to point out the novel features and to define the scope of theinvention.

l is the flush-tank itself of any usual Construction having a lid 2. Thetank is intended to be set low immediately over and at the back of thebowl.

3 is the outlet opening in the bottom of the tank connecting with thesiphon of the bowl. .A valve controls this outlet consisting of two mainparts, an inner part 4: and outer part 5, the latter being a casingtelescoping down over the inner part which consists of a plurality ofspacially separated upright strips 6, preferably four in number,projecting from a fiange 7 resting on a Speoficaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 5,1913.

Serial No. e43,s3o.

rubber washer 8, and thereby on the bottom of the tank, said flange inturn surrounding the upper end of a pipe 77 projecting downwardlythrough the tank out-let opening 3 and being externally threaded belowthe bottom of the tank to receive a nut 9 which secures this whole innerpart of the valve in position in the tank. The tops of the aforesaidstrips 6 are connected by a disk or cap 10.

ll is a rubber ring or other suitable packing material surrounding theinner valve part above the fiange 7, and may be round in cross-section(held against vertical displacement in groove 88 above the fiange T-Fig.4) to make a water-tight joint with the outer casing part of the valvewhen it drops and seats itself telescopically over the inner valve partand on the packing ring ll. F or this purpose the mouth of the outercasing preferably fiares out-wardly as shown at 5% Locked atdifferently, the inner valve part 4: may itself be regarded as being acasing like the outer part but smaller to telescope therein, and ashaving its sides cut out to provide openings spaced apart by more orless upright uncut-away portions.

Dash-pot means is provided to prevent the drop of the outer valve partfrom being noisy, consisting of a piston 12 supported from the innervalve part working in a tube 13 acting as a cylinder for the piston, andbeing supported on the outer valve part 5. The end of said tube abovethe piston having a threadecl opening through it which receives theshank of a screw 83 whose shank has a connected longitudinal and lateralopening 84 through it.

85 is a Washer of packing material on the shank of the screw, so thatwhen the latter is adjusted, the washer*more or less closes the lateralmouth of the opening 84: to give just the correct rapidity of escape ofthe air from the cylinder 13 to permit the valve 5 to drop quickly yetquietly.

14 is an air pipe open at both ends connected uprightly with the valvecasing 5, in this instance by way of the side of said casing so that thepipe is adjacent the rear wall of the tank where it is guided by guides15 for vertical reciprocation and serves as the valve stem by which tooperate the tank outlet valve. The means by which the operator liftsthis pipe or valve stem 14 to operate the valve to cause the tank tofiush consists of a chain 115 connected with the top of the pipe 14running over a guide pulley 16 on the rear wall of the tank, thence overpulley 17 at the left corner of the front wall, thence down into aVertical ho le 18 formed within the front wall of the tank where itconnects with the upper end of a rod 19 whose lower end projectslaterally through a vertical slot 20 in the front of the tank wall,andthence projects upwardlyht 21 through an opening in' the top of -ano-rnamental housing 22 which covers and conceals the-slot 20,said-upward extension having a button 23 on its free end. `ObViou-sly,when this'button is pressed downwardly, the outlet valve casing 5 islifted and thecontents ofthe tank-fiush out through the opening 3.

This is a convenient place 'to point out that the uncutout portions 6 ofthe inner part 4 of the-valvebreak up the tendency of the outrushingwater to swirl and thus serve to increase the rapidity of the flush -aswell as to cut down the noise from gurglng of the water. Both resultsare likewise actively contributed to by the air pipe 14 which,`beingopen to the air above the water in the tank, prevents any vacuum in thevalve and therefore insures the freest possible drop or outfiow of thewater through the valve. Finally,-the pipe 14, besides being a valvestem, has the additional important function of serving as an overfiowpipe, because should forany reasonthe automatic cut-off `for theinflowing water fail to act, nevertheless the tank cannot overflowbecause the excess will run down this pipe 14 into the bowl.

'24 isthe inlet pipe projecting in the arrangement shown a shortdistance upwardly through the bottom of thetank to one side of thevalve. 25 is an elbow on the upper end of this inlet pipe with which isscrew connected the hollow plug 26 of a groundkey valve whose body isdesignated 27. As usual, the body is kept in position on the plug by awasher and -nut 28 on the screw threaded end of the plug which for thepurpose projects sufiiciently beyond the end of the body. The valve body27 has a' port 29 in its side leading` toa hollow internally threadedextension 30 fronwhich projects the curved pipe 31 by which'the inletwater delivers into the tank. Forthis purpose the valve plug 26similarly has a port 32 in its sidezadapted to communicate with the port29 'in the valve body and therefore to deliver the inlet water to thetank whenthe valve bodyand pipe 31 are in any of their lower positionsshort of the raised position at which it is intended for 'them to cutoti' the inlet water, 'which takes place when their movement 'brings thedescribed ports in the valve body and plug out of communication witheach other. The fioat 131 on the pipe or float arm 31 makes it rise andlower as described. It may here be noted .thata this can be made tohappen earlier or later to control thereby the amount of water filledinto the tank for fiushing purposes, by using a wrench on the squareportion 26 of the valveplug and turning it slghtly one way or the otherto make the ports cut off communication at any desired height forfilling of the tank.

I willnow describethe special latch means shown for cooperation with theoutlet valve. It consists of a 'pair of latches 34 and 35 mounted onacommon support 36 which in turn pivots abouta point intermediate thelatches on the end of a clamp 37 supported by the inlet pipe. The commonsupport 36 continues upwardly in the form of a curved arm 38Conveniently called a cam arm because it has that function 'incoperating with a horizontal pin or projection 39 from the fioat arm '31for Operating the latches 34 'and 35 as will soon appear. For thispurpose -I mayprovide a cam piece 138 adjustable along said arm 38 butit is not essential. -The referred to ;projection 39 is part ofa ring 39slidable along the fioat arm and secured thereon in any desired positionof adjustmentby aset screw 39.

40 is a spring mountecl on the clamp 37 to force the cam arm'38 and theupper latch 34 normally into position for the latter to engage the'projection 41 on the side of the valve casing, 'with :which sameprojection (it may/also here be said) the lower latch also engages inthe construction shown. Thus, referring 'to Fig. 1, it will be seen thatthe fioat-arm 31 is in the raised position assumed with the tanknormally full of water. In this position the cam arm 38 permits thespring 40 to force the upper latch 34 into its engaging position nextthe valve casing 5. Should now the operator press the button23 the valvecasing will be lifted, carrying its projection 41 past the upper latch34, by forcing it and the cam arm back against the spring 40 which willimmediately return the parts to their original position with the upperlatch under the projection and upholding the valve casing in the dott edposition of Fig. 1 with the valve wide open to :permit the contents ofthe tank to flush out into the bowl. For this reason the latch 34 isConveniently called 'the fiush latch 'because it takes part in thatoperation. Then the tank has sutliciently emptied to effect the fiushthe float arm 31 has `meanwhile lowered into a position as in Fig. 2where its pin 39 has cammed back-the cam arm 38 to disengage the flushlatch, and Vice versa to move the lower latch 35 into engaging positionso that the valve casing drops but not into fully seated positionbecause said lower latch upholds it as shown in Fig. 2 with the valvepartially open. This permits the remaining water in the tank and some ofthe inlet water (which has now begun to flow in as previously describedthrough the fioat arm 31) to flow to the bowl to fill its siphon which,as is well known, is emptied by the created suction therein due to thefiushing operation. This holding of the ontlet valve partially open bythe latch 35 to fill the siphon of the bowl is Conveniently called therefill or refiush operation and accordingly the latch 35 may be calledthe reflush latch. Meanwhile, the tank is rapidly filling because it isarranged that the inflow of water through the floatarm shall be manytimes faster than the outfiow through the partially open valve. Theresult is that the tloat arm rises permitting the cam arm to coneforward or toward the valve, which moves the refiush latch 35 out of itsengaging position and permits the valve casing to drop by gravity intofully closed position, thereby cutting off further flow from the tank tothe bowl. At the same time, the flush latch is brought forward intoengaging position and the condition shown in Fig. l is again reproducedwith the tank normally full of water and with both outlet and inletstopped, ready for the next flushing operation by pressing the button23.

lVhat I claim is:

l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, afiush-latch to hold the valve wide open, and a refiush-latch to hold thevalve partially open, said latches being individually operated out ofengaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, theflush-latch being dsengaged by the lowering of the float means to permitthe valve to close to the extent of then engaging the refiush latch, andsaid refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the float means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, alush-latch to hold the valve wide open, a refiush-latch to hold thevalve partially open, and an operative connection between the floatmeans and the latches comprising cam-means which disengages the flushlatch during the lowering of the fioat means, and which disengages thereflush latch during the rising of the float means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, alush-latch to hold the valve wide open, a reflush-latch to hold thevalve partially open, and an operative connection between the floatmeans and the latches which disengages the flush latch during thelowering of the fioat means and which disengages the re-flush latchduring the rising of the fioat means.

t. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water .in the tank,and latch means having altei'nate positions of engagement with thevalve, one of which holds the valve wide open, and the other of whichholds the valve partially open, said latch means being operated from itswide open position into its partially open position by the lowering ofthe fioat means and vice versa back to its wide open posit io-n by therising of the fioat means.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank,and latch means having alternate positions of engagement With the valve,one of which holds the valve wide open, and the other of which holds thevalve partially open, said latch means being operated from its wide openposition into its partially open position from the lowering of the fioatmeans and vice versa back to its wide open position by the rising of thefioat means, said latch means normally tending into its wide openposition.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tanlrhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valvewide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latchesbeing individually operated outof engagng positions from the rising andlowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengaged from thelowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extentof then engagng the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically andhaving a single part thereon cngaged by both latches, and said latchesbeing inter-connected so that as one moves into engaging position, theother moves out of engaging position, the one latch being above theother latch.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tanlrhaving an ontlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lower-ing with the water inthe tank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold thevalve wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, saidlatches being individually operated out of engaging position 'from therising and lowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengagedfrom the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to theextent of then engaging the other latch, and said other latch beingdisengaged by the risng of the fioat means, the valve working verticallyand having a single part thereon engaged by both latches, and saidlatches being inter-connected so that as one moves into engagingposition the other moves out of engaging position, the said one latchbeing above the other latch, and the one latch normally tending into itsvalve engaging position.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tank havingan outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually openingthe valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank,and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve wideopen, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latches beingindividually operated out of engaging position from the rising andlowering of the fioat means, the one latch being-disengaged by thelowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extentof then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the float means, the valve working vertically andhaving a single part thereon engaged by both latches, and said latchesbeing inter-connected so that as one moves into engaging position theother moves out of engaging position, the said one latch being above theother latch, and spring means which forces the one latch normally intoits engaging position.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination 01"' a tankhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valvewide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latchesbeing individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising andlowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged by thelowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the extentof then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the tloat means, said latches being inter-connected sothat as one moves into its engaging position with the valve, the othermoves out of its engaging position.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving an outlet,

a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve,fieat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, and a pairof latches engaging the valve, one to'hold the valve wide open, and theother to hold the valve partially open, said latches being individuallyoperated out of engaging positions from the rising and lowering of thefloat means, the one latch being disengaged from the lower-ing of thefioat means to permit the valve to close to the extent of then engagingthe other latch, and said other latch being disengaged from the risingof the float means, the valve Working vertically and the latches beingmounted one above the other on a common support which pivots about apoint intermediate the two latches.

ll. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, and a pair of latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valvewide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latchesbeing individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising andlowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged from thelowering of the fioat means to permit the valve to close to the eXtentof then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the fioat means, the valve working vertically and thelatches being mounted one above the other on a common support whichpivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch beingspring pressed into its engaging position with the valve.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, and a pair of latches engaging the` valve, one to hold the valvewide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latchesbeing individually operated out of engaging positions by the rising andlowering of the fioat means, the one latch being disengaged by thelowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the extentof then engaging the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the fioat means, the valve working vertically and thelatches being mounted one above the other on a common support whichpivots about a point intermediate the two latches, the upper latch beingspring pressed into its engaging position with the valve, and the lowerlatch being itself pivoted to the aforesaid common support.

13. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination ot a tank having an outlet, a valve controlling saidoutlet, means for manually opening' the valve, float means rising andlowering with the water in the tank, and a pair of latches engaging thevalve, one to hold the valve wide open, and the other to hold the valvepartially open, said latches being individually operated out of engagingpcsitions by the rising and lowering ot' the float means, the one latchbeing disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means to permit the valveto close to the extent of then engaging the other latch, and said otherlatch being disengaged by the rising ot' the fioat means, the valveworking vertically and the latches being mounted one above the other ona common support which pivots about a point intermediate the twolatches, the upper latch being spring pressed into its engaging positionwith the valves, and the lower latch being itself pivoted to theaforesaid common support and being spring pressed toward engagingposition with the valve.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving' an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, and a pair oi' latches engaging the valve, one to hold the valve.wide open, and the other to hold the valve partially open, said latchesbeing individually operated ont of engaging positions by the rising andlowering of the float means, the one latch being disengaged by thelowering of the float means to permit the valve to close to the extentof then engagng the other latch, and said other latch being disengagedby the rising of the float means, said latches being inter-connected sothat as one moves into its engaging position with the valve the othermoves out of its engaging position, and an Operative connection betweenthe fioat means and the latches comprising cam-means which disengagesthe one latch during the lowering of the fioat means, and whichdisengages the other latch during the rising of the fioat means.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, fioat means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, a fiush latch to hold the valve wide open, a refinsh latch to holdthe valve partially open, said latches being individually operated outof engaging positions by the raising and lowering of the fioat means,the fiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the float means topermit the valve to close to the eXtent of then engaging the refiushlatch, and said reflush latch being disengaged by the rising of thefloat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mountedone above the other on a common support which pivots about a pointintermediate the two latches, and an opera- 'tive connection between thefioat means and the latches comprising cam-means which disengages thefiush latch during the lowering ot' the fioat means, and whichdisengages the refiush latch during the rising of the fioat means.

16. In apparatus of the class described,

e the combination ot' a tank having an outlet,

a valve controlling said outlet, means for manually opening the valve,fioat means rising and lowering with the water in the tank, a fiushlatch to hold the valve wide open, a reush latch to hold the valvepartially open, said latches being individually operatecl out ofengaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, thefiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means topermit the valve to close to the extent of then engaging the reushlatch, and said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of thefloat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mounte done above the other on a common support which pivots about a pointintermediate the two latches, the upper latchbeing spring pressed intoits engaging position .with the valve, and an operative connectionbetween the fioat means and the latches comprising cam means whichdisengages the fiush latch during the lowering of the fioat means, andwhich disengages the reflush latch during the rising of the float means.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combinatio-n of a tankhaving an outlet, a valve controlling said outlet, means for manuallyopening the valve, float means rising and lowering with the water in thetank, a fiush latch to hold the valve wide open, a reflush latch to holdthe valve partially open, said latches being individually operated outof engaging positions by the rising and lowering of the fioat means, thefiush latch being disengaged by the lowering of the fioat means topermit the valve to close to the eXtent of then engaging the reflushlatch, and said refiush latch being disengaged by the rising of thefloat means, the valve working vertically and the latches being mountedone above the other on a common support which pivots about a pointintermediate the two latches, the upper latch being spring pressed intoits engaging position with the valve, and the lower latch being itselfpivoted to the atoresaid common support, and an operative connectionbetween the fioat means and the latches eomprising cam-means whichdisengages the fiush latch during the lowering of the float means, andwhich disengages the refiush latch during the rising of the fioat means.

18. In apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a tank having an` outlet, a Valve controlling saidoutlet, means for manually opening thevalve, fioat means rising andlowering with the water in the tank, a fiush latch to hold` the valvewide open, a refiush latch to hold the Valve para tially open, said'latches being individually operated. out of engaging positions bytherising and lower-ing of the fioat means, the flush latch beingdisengaged by the lowering of thefioat means to permit the Valve toclose to the extent of then engaging the refiush latch, and` saidrefiush latch being disengaged by the rising of the floatmeans, thevalVe Working vertioally and the latches being mounted: one above theother; on acommon support which pivotsabout a point; intermediate thetwolatches, the upper; latch being spring pressed into its engagingposition with the' valve, and the lower' latch being itselfi pivoted tothe aforesaid common support and beingspring pressed toward; engagingposition: with; the v alve, and an operative` connection. between thefloat. means and thelatches comprising cam means' which disengages theflush latch dur-ing the-lowering; oi"` the fioatmeans, and whichdisengages the reflush latch during: the rising of the-fl'oat means.

19. In. apparatns of the class described, the combination of a tank.having an outlet, a valve controlling said out-let, means for manualiyopening the VaIVe, fioat means risngand lowering, with the water in thetank comprising a. float on an arm pvoted in the tank to raise and lowerwith the float, latches for successively engaging the valve tohold thesame open different distances, a common support for' the latches, a camarm carried with said common latch support, and means on the fioat armwhich bears on and actuates the cam arm to operate the. latches as abovedescribed by the rising and lowering of the float means;

20.4 In apparatus of the character set forth, 'the combination with atank having an` o-utlet of a valve controlling the outlet, means foropening the valve to discharge the water fromthe tank, a float. thatrises andfalls with the level of the water. in the tank, a latch. forholding; the outiet-controlling'valve partially open` for apredetermined period; during the refillng of the tank, andxmeansactuatedby the fioatonits upward movement for efi'ecting the release of 'theoutlet-oontrolling valve from the latchto permit said valve to -fullyclose.

In testimony whereof I\ atfix my' signature in presence of-twowitnesses..

WARREN F. DREXV;

Witnesses:

E, W; SCHERR, Jr., ALAN- Ci MGDONNELL.,

copies of this' patent may be: obtainedfo' five. cents: each-, byaddressng. the: commssoner ofii'Patents.

Washingtom-.D. C.

